Chandler's Crabhouse

The wine list at Chandler's leans hard into Washington state, which is exactly what you want at a crabhouse sitting on Lake Union. It reads like a confident regional statement rather than a safe corporate hedge — there's real intention here. The presence of an actual sommelier in a restaurant that could easily coast on the view is a good early sign.

The list is a focused tour of Washington's best — Avennia, Woodward Canyon, SIXTO, Abeja, Sparkman Cellars, Baer, Tamarack — producers that serious Washington wine fans will recognize and casual drinkers will discover. The Chardonnay section alone gives you five distinct expressions, from the leaner, mineral-driven Baer 'Shard' to the richer Abeja. Two Vintners Zinfandel adds a bit of left-field personality that keeps things interesting. The gap is that we'd love to see more red depth and any serious representation from outside Washington — Burgundy or northern Rhône would fill out the seafood pairing options nicely.

By-the-glass specifics weren't available during our visit, which is a mild frustration given the sommelier on staff — there's real potential here for a tight, rotating glass program. What we can say is that with bottles starting around $35 (the Tamarack Chardonnay), the floor is accessible. We'd push staff for any pours they're pulling from open bottles.